Improved Over Origional
Having the leader actually on the map to help out building or fighting is also a nice improvement to the action of the game. I also like the streamlined approach of roads and garages.
The added things you can do for your people like social security and welfare is neat because now you don't have to have zero housing or businesses so they can eat and get out of the cold.
It has a robust sandbox game with an island land mass generator you can set to your hearts desire just like the origional. But, in this one you get better eye candy and lots of activity. I find it enjoyable just to click on one of the peasants and follow them around in their lives, it's not the Sims 3, but, it's still a lot of fun.
People are anxious to come to your island and work you have to really stay on your toes to keep them in jobs or your unemployment rate can go up pretty fast.
About my only complaint is the builders and laborers don't work as fast as I might like them to. I find myself building maybe a few more of these types than in the origional, but, oh well it's a job. ;)
If you liked the origional Tropico you will like this one. If you spent hours and hours playing the origional you will spend days and days playing this one. It has much more eye candy and looks very pretty. You can get lost just watching the sunsets.
Once again I do not think the reviewers of this site gave it the quality scores and reviews it deserves. They will give sorry games like Empire Total War high 80's or 90's and give this one 80. I'm getting where I don't even read their reviews anymore they are so biased. Probably get their hands padded as well by Activision and Sega and all the big production outfits.